The course is designed to engage students in the practice of collaborative, integrative multidisciplinary research needed for tackling complex multi-scale issues involved in creating viable human futures. Topics will include the ‘science wars' and knowledge systems, open versus closed social systems, regulated versus market exchanges, resource use versus conservation, living with risk and uncertainty, balancing individual wants and social needs, global equality of access and opportunity.

The course is focussed on students forming small research teams that will investigate a future issue in a collaborative partnership with an external agency, institution, company or enterprise. Seminars will concentrate on the practice and application of research methodologies, methods and tools for doing and integrating research across many discipline areas. Attendance at all seminars is a course requirement.